Girl scouts present petition on community center

ACUSHNET — Girl Scouts from three troops presented a petition with close to 700 names Tuesday at Town Hall to try to save the community center. The troops meet at the center on Thursday nights.

Comment

By Peggy Aulisio

southcoasttoday.com

By Peggy Aulisio

Posted Apr. 18, 2013 at 10:45 AM

By Peggy Aulisio
Posted Apr. 18, 2013 at 10:45 AM

» Social News

ACUSHNET — Girl Scouts from three troops presented a petition with close to 700 names Tuesday at Town Hall to try to save the community center. The troops meet at the center on Thursday nights.

One of the parents, Cheryl Jesse, said the girls "were very upset at the news that the center would be closing. They asked if there was anything they could do to help."

Ms. Jesse said the girls were told if they got 100 signatures on a petition, they could get the library/community center on the Town Meeting warrant in May.

A proposal for a new library/community center lost by 36 votes at the annual town election April 1.

Ms. Jesse said they had to get 100 signatures in four days, which seemed like a "short window," but they got 684 people to sign it.

They garnered them by having mothers and daughters go door to door and stand outside the library, Pope Park and a few other locations in town.

"What an amazing achievement," Ms. Jesse said. "Due to their efforts and dedication, they have proven that there is more than enough support for this project.

"With their determination and help, we may still be able to create a building that will accommodate both the library and community center and all the needed programs that they provide for our children now and into the future."

Kristen Leotti, head of the library trustees, said the library/community center can go back before voters at Town Meeting and another town election. She said there is time after the Town Meeting on May 20 to get it on the ballot for the U.S. Senate election on June 25.

The town has until June 30 to vote to approve the library/community center without losing the state's 50 percent match.

"I'm amazed that they've gotten almost 700 signatures," Ms. Leotti said. "I tell you it was really a surprise when I learned last week they were putting out a petition. It's amazing the accomplishment they have done."

Ms. Leotti said the girls' success "really does underscore the support people have for the library/community center."

She called the girl scouts "the driving force behind this. I congratulate them. This is a wonderful things for kids to do. It's democracy at work. They're getting out there and making a difference in this town."

While the girls are upset that the community center will close June 30 because that's where they meet, many people who signed the petition supported the library, too, Ms. Leotti said.

Asked why the community center has to close June 30, Ms. Leotti said some of the volunteers who run it are in their eighties, others are close to retirement. She said along with the effort needed to run the center, they are having problems raising the $1,200 a month needed to operate it and the programs.

A facebook page was created for gathering signatures for the petition. Along with presenting it at Town Hall, the scouts and mothers plan to attend the selectmen's meeting on April 22.